East Of Eden Theme Analysis

What exactly is a theme? A theme, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is “a particular subject or issue that is discussed often or repeatedly.” In most cases, a theme is referenced as a moral or lesson to be learned from reading and interpreting a selection. In East of Eden by John Steinbeck, the character Lee demonstrates some of the themes found throughout Steinbeck’s literary masterpiece. The way Lee conducts himself is a way that makes him content with his life and the position he is currently in. The manner in which he conducts himself is one that makes him such a good role model for people to follow, such as Cal and Aron. We will be focusing on the themes that Lee embodies through his words and actions.
The first theme that will be examined through Lee is the theme that you do not need to be blood related to be

family. For example, Cal and Aron see Lee as family and as a father figure due to Adam’s lack of fathering skills and interest for a good portion of the twins’ lives, as stated by Samuel Hamilton, who says Adam “has left them fatherless” (259). Lee is the one who help Cal and Aron grow up and educates them for the early portion of their lives, where Lee dresses them in “straight trousers and the frogged and braided jackets of the Chinese” (261). Lee also educates young Aron and Cal, as “Lee spoke to them sharply in Cantonese and they were silent” (265). This implies that Lee has the privilege of teaching the twins how to speak and understand another language, which is imperative in society. Lee is shown being a father figure towards Abra. During a time of trouble in Abra’s family, she frequently visits Lee and the Trasks. During one such visit, Abra proclaims to Lee, “I wish you were my father” (584). When asked why, she responds by saying, “Because I love you.” This shows Lee’s influence as a father figure to young people of the next generation. This also shows the comfort and warmth that radiates from Lee as he shares valuable information to people. This gives Lee pleasure and more importantly, illustrates the theme that you do not have to be blood related to be a father figure.
Another theme that Lee demonstrates is the theme that the truth should always be told, even if it does hurt people’s feelings. This is one theme that Lee and Adam did not follow, and as a result, caused strife within the Trask household. Lee and Adam had failed to mention to Cal and Aron that their mother was a whore in Salinas. This caused Aron and Cal to question whether to believe the men that Cal had eavesdropped on, saying their mother was alive, or to believe Lee and their father, who claimed their mother was dead and in Heaven, causing division between the family. Aron “shook his head in the dark, shook it hard in disbelief” (429). He “felt that something had to die-his mother or his world.” Later on, when Cal discovers who his mother really is, he is ashamed to know that this woman was the reason for his dark personality. Evidence of his strong distaste for his mother comes when speaking to Abra when Cal says, “I’ve got her blood, Abra” (598). Emphasis is shown through the way Cal says her, as if to regard is mother in a derogatory way. Aron, when shown is mother, is completely crushed under the realization that his perfect world is not and cannot be a reality for him. Had Lee and Adam told the truth to Cal and Aron about Kate, the Trasks could have prevented Aron from joining the Army and from giving Adam a stroke. As you can see, the truth should never be withheld because it could prevent tragedies from occurring in the future.
A more significant theme to be learned is that by setting a good example for younger people, you are treating them like your own children and acting as a parent. For example, Cal and Aron see Lee as a father figure due to Adam’s lack of fathering skills and interest for a good portion of the twins’ lives, as stated by Samuel Hamilton, who says Adam “has left them fatherless” (259). Lee is the one who help Cal and Aron grow up and educates them for the early portion of their lives, where Lee dresses them in “straight trousers and the frogged and braided jackets of the Chinese” (261). Lee also educates young Aron and Cal, as “Lee spoke to them sharply in Cantonese and they were silent” (265). This implies that Lee has the privilege and freedom of teaching the twins how to speak and understand another language, which is imperative in society. Lee was so involved with the twins’ lives that when Lee left to open his bookstore in San Francisco, “the twins discussed Lee for the first time” (418). This section implies that Aron and Cal have been around Lee so much that they took him for granted, as one member of their family. As you can see, Lee treats Aron and Cal like he is the parent and guardian of him, and as a result, the twins had a sense of comfort and security around him, a feeling usually reserved for a child’s blood related parent or guardian.
The most important theme to be taken away from this novel is the theme that everyone has a choice to choose good over evil.

As stated by Lee during his discussion with Samuel Hamilton and Adam, he says, “…the word timshel—thou mayest—that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world” (303). This discussion shows the fact that timshel is a forgiveness word of sorts. It also gives people a choice to choose good over evil. One example of timshel being used for forgiveness and used to choose good over evil is at the end of the book, where Adam is on his deathbed and Lee brings in Cal. Lee commands Adam to “Free him! Bless Him!” (602) in regards to setting Cal free over the darkness and evil that has consumed Cal’s thoughts. Once Adam utters timshel, Cal is freed from the thought that he has his mother’s wicked and sinful nature and characteristics. This allows Cal to understand that he has control over his own destiny in a moral sense. As you can see, the most important lesson or theme to comprehend from East of Eden is that people have a choice to choose good over evil and that it can forgive people of past mistakes and

crimes.